Comparison

QABA vs Quick Reference Handbook

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

QABA

This medical app provides quantitative acid-base analysis by allowing users to input blood results. It calculates key variables like Strong Ion Difference and Net Unmeasured Ions, offering a color-coded results screen and a user guide. It's designed for medical professionals to aid in clinical decision-making.

Highlights
  • Quantitative Acid Base Analysis
  • Blood result input
  • Calculates SID, NUI, Atot
  • Color-coded results screen
  • Includes User Guide
  • Supports additional lab values
Features
Read full description

Quantitative Acid Base Analyser Download now and take your Acid Base Analysis to a new and quantitative level! Completely Free! ------------------------------------------------------------------ QABA is designed for Anaesthetic/ICU Consultants and Registrars, but may also be useful for other health and veterinary professionals QABA allows you to enter the blood results and quickly analyse the Acid Base disturbance as per a refinement of the Quantitative Acid Base Analysis introduced by P. Stewart in 1978 The App features: 'swipe' buttons for quick data entry, a colour coded results screen, with a text report & Gamblegram. The App also includes a brief introduction to understanding QABA and a User Guide. Just enter the levels of sodium, potassium, chloride, pH, CO2 and the App will calculate the results of the 3 independent variables that control blood plasma pH; CO2 Strong Ion Difference (SID) and Weak Acids (Atot), NB: Atot requires at least Albumin or Total Protein level. The app will also display the Net Unmeasured Ions (NUI). NUI is an advancement on the Strong Ion Gap used in Stewarts original equations which is comparable to the Anion Gap used in traditional acid base analysis. For added Analysis accuracy QABA can also accept the phosphate, ionised calcium, magnesium, sulphate, lactate, urate, albumin and total protein levels. This App is based on version 11.6 of the P Lloyd 'Quantitative Acid Base Analysis' in use at Hawkes Bay hospital, New Zealand. The App was written by Dr C Donald and supervised by Intensivists Dr M Park and Dr R Freebairn. ------------ Disclaimer Every effort has been made to make this anylser an accurate and useful clinical tool. However the results must be considered alongside the clinical context and the user assumes all liability/responsibility for the clinical decisions made based upon QABA's results

About

Quick Reference Handbook

This medical reference app aids healthcare professionals in identifying, diagnosing, and describing congenital anomalies and infections. It features visual tools and diagnostic checklists, designed for ease of use even in low-resource settings.

Highlights
  • Identify congenital anomalies
  • Diagnose infections
  • Describe medical conditions
  • Visual diagnostic tools
  • Diagnostic checklists
  • Low-resource area friendly
Features
Read full description

The Quick Reference Handbook (QRH) helps identify, diagnose, and describe selected congenital anomalies and infections accurately and easily. Key facts: • Developed especially for front-line health care professionals – birth attendants, nurses, midwives, doctors • Designed for use also in low resource areas with limited diagnostic options • Includes visual tools and diagnostic checklists for efficiency and ease of use • Aims to improve clinical care and public health surveillance of children with congenital anomalies

Screenshots

QABA4 screens
Quick Reference Handbook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ratings volume: QABA at 3 against Quick Reference Handbook's 1. QABA also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for QABA against 5.0 for Quick Reference Handbook. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

QABA ships an update every 34 months, Quick Reference Handbook every 52 months. The most recent releases landed on October 5, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
QABA versus Quick Reference Handbook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterQABAQuick Reference Handbook
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews91.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 34 months — betterEvery 52 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB12 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperCalum DonaldInternational Clearinghouse For Birth Defects Surveillance

Customer experience

QABA

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews12 reviews
Positive91.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative8.3%

Quick Reference Handbook

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

QABA

No in-app purchases

None

Quick Reference Handbook

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is QABA free?
QABA is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Quick Reference Handbook free?
Quick Reference Handbook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, QABA or Quick Reference Handbook?
QABA and Quick Reference Handbook are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do QABA or Quick Reference Handbook have ads?
Neither QABA nor Quick Reference Handbook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, QABA or Quick Reference Handbook?
QABA ships an update every 34 months, and Quick Reference Handbook every 52 months. Most recently, QABA was updated on October 5, 2026 and Quick Reference Handbook on October 8, 2026.

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